City raises garbage rates; study planned to reduce waste

Milwaukie City Council last week unanimously adopted an increase in garbage and recycling collection rates to offset haulers labor costs and a 49-cent per ton tip fee increase effective Sept. 1 at Metro Transfer Stations.

Unlike Oregon City and Gladstone, where theres only one garbage hauling company per city, Milwaukie and Happy Valley are covered by a patchwork of garbage companies, including Wichita Sanitary, Waste Management of Oregon and Clackamas Garbage, each serving different designated areas.

Depending on frequency of service and size of can or cart, increases raise monthly bills citywide in Milwaukie anywhere from a nickel to 70 cents for residential customers, and from 95 cents to $7.62 a month for commercial users. Rate increases for residents, businesses and some drop boxes take effect Oct. 1.

Dave White, representing Milwaukie garbage and recycling haulers support of the rate increase on Sept. 3, estimated an average 8.4 percent profit with the new rates. Mayor Jeremy Ferguson, Councilor Mark Gamba and White discussed their appreciation of a partnership to coordinate review of types of waste disposed by customers to determine how best to encourage customers to generate less trash.

City staff will report results to the City Council in order to inform discussions of a more overarching rate structure change that aims to be more equitable for customers while encouraging recycling and waste reduction.

The haulers look forward to assisting the city in those efforts, White said.